Mass memory and reasoning tests 'track dementia risk'

A third of a million adults in the UK are to be invited to take part in the world's biggest study of cognitive function. The aim of the trial, funded by the Medical Research Council, is to try to predict what factors may increase the risk of developing dementia. All the participants will be part of UK Biobank, and previously gave DNA samples and lifestyle information.

They will be asked to do a series of memory and reasoning tests online. When they were enrolled in UK Biobank over the past decade, volunteers gave blood and urine samples, underwent a fitness test and answered questions on their health and diet. They also did a series of computer-based puzzles - those cognitive tests will now be repeated.

All the participants were aged 40-69 when the programme started. This time the volunteers can do the test at home by logging in online.

Comments

Very big effort! Data from this study are likely to be very comprehensive and cover information from DNA to memory tests - the number of participants is also relatively large. We anticipate many important findings that will help with identifying factors linked to dementia
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